ICE employment audits will target 39 South Texas business

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement put more than 650 U.S. businesses on notice today  39 in South Texas  that it will be inspecting their employment records. Specifically, ICE will audit 1-9 forms, which document the legality of employees to work in the United States.

ICE calls it “a bold, new audit initiative.”

It is a move by the Obama White House to curtail illegal immigration by redirecting a focus on workplace raids (that targeted employees) to workplace audits (that target employers). It has become the job of employers to check the work eligibility of its employees.

The high-profile workplace raids ICE initiated last year, largely during the Bush administration, rounded up undocumented immigrants working in factories, restaurants and mills throughout the country. Some held jobs that don’t pay wages Americans expect.

These events detained and deported thousands of undocumented immigrants. Some U.S. citizens were caught up in the roundups. The raids, highly criticized by immigrant advocates and others, also resulted in breaking apart families, leaving citizen children separated from their undocumented parents.

“Inspections are one of the most powerful tools the federal government has to enforce employment and immigration laws,” an ICE press release says. “This new initiative illustrates ICE’s increased focus on holding employers accountable for their hiring practices and efforts to ensure a legal workforce.”

It’s also likely to be part of Washington’s efforts to promote the passage of comprehensive immigration reform, which President Obama promised voters during his first year in office.

ICE spokeswoman Adelina Pruneda notes that the 39 South Texas “businesses were selected for inspection as a result of leads and information obtained through other investigative means. Due to the ongoing law enforcement sensitive nature of these audits, the names and locations of the businesses will not be released at this time.”

The number of these “notices of inspection” are more than the 503 ICE issued in the last fiscal year.